House age X-ray1970s · Colorado

Built in 1979: 5 things worth checking before you offer.

Worth checking for this era. This is not a finding about a specific house. A full listing check is a separate step.

Download image

Email me this checklist

We email the list and a sign-in link. Opening the link creates an account if you do not have one. You get 2 free full reports when you sign in.

Check a real listing You get 2 free full reports when you sign in.

  1. 1.Polybutylene pipes

    Era check

    The Cox v. Shell settlement class covered polybutylene supply plumbing installed between January 1, 1978 and July 31, 1995. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. Gray flexible plastic supply pipe, sometimes stamped PB2110, at the water heater or under a sink. White, red, or blue pipe stamped PEX is a different material.

    Who checks it. Plumber or home inspector

    Consumer Plumbing Recovery Center: Cox v. Shell Oil Company polybutylene settlement notice

  2. 2.Federal Pacific panels

    Commonly reported, verify

    Stab-Lok panels from the 1950s into the 1980s are commonly reported, verify. In 1983 CPSC closed its investigation because the data it had did not establish a serious risk of injury. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. A panel door that reads Federal Pacific, FPE, or Stab-Lok.

    Who checks it. Electrician

    CPSC: Commission Closes Investigation Of FPE Circuit Breakers

  3. 3.Radon

    Regional, depends on location

    EPA says every home should be tested, and that the zone map is not a result for one house. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. A PVC pipe and an exterior fan can mean a system is already installed. Ask for the before-and-after test numbers.

    Who checks it. Radon measurement professional

    EPA: EPA Map of Radon Zones

  4. 4.Hail damage

    Regional, depends on location

    NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center records more large hail on the southern Plains (Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas) than on the northern Plains (Nebraska, the Dakotas, and northeast Colorado). Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. Random soft spots in asphalt shingles, or a listing that mentions a recent roof claim. Ask whether the carrier already paid actual cash value.

    Who checks it. Roof inspector

    NOAA Storm Prediction Center: The NSPP Severe Weather Database

  5. 5.Expansive clay

    Regional, depends on location

    The Colorado Geological Survey calls expansive clay one of the state’s most widespread geologic hazards. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. Seasonal door stick and diagonal cracks that open in a dry spell and ease after rain. Ask whether the slab was designed for swelling soil.

    Who checks it. Structural engineer

    Colorado Geological Survey: Expansive Soil and Rock

Elsewhere in the 1970s

What is worth checking for a house built in 1979?

Built in 1979: 5 things worth checking before you offer. On this checklist: Polybutylene pipes, Federal Pacific panels, Radon, Hail damage, Expansive clay. Each line is worth checking for this era.

Does a house built in 1979 have these problems?

No. The list is what is worth checking for this era. It is not a finding about a specific address. A full listing analysis is a separate step.